Thursday, June 17, 2010

It Happened at Work

Many of you have asked me to tell you the story of how Hubs and I met-----Really, no lie. People asked. You know, like maybe 4 of you anyway.

And the simple answer is actually one of Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop prompts: It happened at work.

I was 24 and had just returned to NC after a year away. My old school had hired me back, though this time teaching 8th grade and since I had a reputation of being a strict teacher, I was given the "problem" block of kids. The vice-principal even flat out told me that I should know idiot-teacher-two-doors-down-from-me-who-shall-remain-nameless-much-like-Voldemort would never be able to handle them. I guess it was supposed to butter me up, though it was also true. Those kids would have eaten her alive. Yes, this is important to my story.

Before you tell me that it's terrible to think that I had the "bad" kids, let me tell you that they were actually good for me, usually- except for the day one came to my class high and then tried to say that he wasn't by taking his shoes off, shaking them upside down, and yelling, "See, I don't have any drugs!" One had just come back from a 365-day suspension for bringing a gun to school, and three didn't finish the school year because they were in jail. Not even juvenile detention, but tried-as-adults jail. And this was in a very small town. But, after coming off a year of teaching inner-city kids, I would just laugh at them and tell them that I'd taught 2nd graders who were tougher than they were.

We were about two weeks into the school year when one of my girls came running into my classroom, threw her backpack down on my front table and said something to the effect of "Ms. K, I was really bad. I did something horrible. You need to send me to chill-out."

"Chill-out" is basically a time-out room for middle-schoolers and also where the In-School-Suspension(ISS) kids serve their time.

The girl in question- Jessica was her name -OMG my memory isn't gone, just don't ask me her last name- there were 3 Jessicas in my third block, was one of my good kids, so I asked what the heck was going on.

And found out that they'd filled the position of the ISS teacher and he was hot, cute, etc. All my girls echoed this as they filed in to my classroom.

Damnit, I thought. What the hell good is the ISS teacher if my girls want to go to his room?

So, I decided to make an announcement. "Sorry, girls, your punishment will be having to stay here and just have me to look out. If you are good, maybe I'll have you take an assignment down there for me. Boys, I'll still send you, though."

I caught sight of the new teacher that afternoon out by the buses. And meanly whispered to my roommate, "Is that him? He looks like a lost puppy. Like he's going to do any good in chill-out."

But, since his classroom was on my hall and some of my students practically lived in his classroom, we started talking. Really, my teaching partners who sucked and didn't know how to keep order in theirclassrooms sent so many kids to his room that if I wanted to see my third block kids, I had to go down to his room.

And so we started talking. And yes, he was adorable and really funny and sweet. Maybe even too sweet- I think the principal told him at one point to go observe me teaching to learn how to be meaner.

But, I was in no way looking for a relationship at that point and I had absolutely no desire to ever date someone that I worked with. In a middle school in a small town? Are you kidding me? All the gossip? No, thanks.

Yet, when he asked me to his birthday party, I still went. Because it was at a restaurant that was five minutes from my house that I liked and I knew I could duck out if I didn't want to be there any more.

I left that party thinking that he was not someone that I would ever date, whether we worked together or not.

Not because there was anything wrong with him- but it was very obvious that we were completely different. But, I also left thinking that we could be friends.

How we went from that night to being engaged less than a year later and married less than a year after that is a story for another time.

But, there's the answer to how we met: It happened at work.

I just quickly want to mention how much I love the connections from blogging- the comments and the emails yesterday from those of you sharing your stories- it's amazing to find out how many experiences we have in common, even though no one would ever guess. It means a lot that you shared those things with me.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow to see who is the new BFF: Blog Friend Feature. If you haven't checked out the first one- click the link in the sidebar and leave some love for Tammy.

My *WW* post is the same thing today! ;) It Happened At Work, and I met my hubby is the end of the story. With some history, or whatever you want to call it, of my romantic life through the office. :P Sounds like you guys were a match made in the perfect place! Love it!

AWWWW. So CUTE. I always wored retail, and there really aren't a lot of available guys (that date women) in retail. So the off duty police officers that worked there were always setting me up. I dated 3 cops in a row (different districts though, cause that makes it better) before I gave them up completely. But man, there is somethign about that uniform. It's a good thing you were the "mean" teacher though!!!

You know what I love about your writing? The fact that you build your story and I'm dying to know what's going to happen next. You might want to think about that and what I've been saying to you. Storytelling is an art and you either have it or you don't. You have it.

I met my Hubs and within five minutes I knew I was going to marry this guy. Even though he sounded like a hick. And 9 months later, we married. It was very Wham Bam Thank you ma'am. I wouldn't recommend it, but it worked. And now, 12 years later, I love to tell our story, too.

You know what I always love about hearing stories like this? That person ALWAYS seems to walk into your life when you're least expecting it!

Dearest and I met and although I was really into him at first, the more we hung around I though, "Oh no! There's NO WAY I could date this guy!" And, I definitely wasn't looking for a boyfriend. WAH-LAH!

Awwww...love the "how we met" stories! Teaching middle school would be so tough! Do you miss it?thanks for sharing. I saw your little BTW message on the bottom too, and I'm thankful you do PYHO. It's been my therapy the last two weeks. :)

The story is sweet and funny, but I wanted to mention that I'm really impressed with you handling those kids!! Especially telling them you had 2nd graders who were tougher. :) My friend, Kat, who I wrote about today works for the Chicago Public Schools, and is sent to some ghetto places. She will do PT on kids who were shot, etc. It takes the right person, and thank goodness for people like you!